LEPTOSPOROSIS

What is Leptospirosis and why is it important to vaccinate my dog?
Leptospirosis is a disease caused by infection with Leptospira bacteria. These bacteria can be found in soil and water. There are many strains of Leptospira bacteria that can cause disease, and many mammals are susceptible—including dogs, people, livestock, and certain wildlife. Although cats also may become ill, this happens only rarely.
All dogs are at risk of leptospirosis, regardless of age, breed, lifestyle, geographic location, time of year, and other factors. The following situations can increase that risk:

• Exposure to or drinking from slow-moving or stagnant water sources, like ponds, rivers, lakes, or streams
• Roaming on rural properties (because of exposure to potentially infected wildlife or farm animals or urine-contaminated water sources)
• Exposure to wild animals (especially rodents) or farm animals, even if in the backyard
• Contact with other dogs (such as in urban areas, dog parks, or boarding or training facilities)

What are the signs of leptospirosis in dogs?
The signs of leptospirosis in dogs vary.  Some infected dogs have no signs of illness; some have a mild and transient illness and recover on their own; and others develop severe, life-threatening illness.
For dogs that do become ill, the signs tend to be non-specific. These are the most common signs:

• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes)
• Dehydration
• Drinking or urinating more than usual
• Weight loss
• Stiffness or muscle pain

The disease can progress to kidney and/or liver failure. Some dogs may develop severe lung disease and rapid, difficulty breathing. Damage to the heart muscle has been suspected in some cases.
How is leptospirosis spread?
Dogs typically become infected when their mucous membranes (as in the mouth, nose, or eyes) or skin wounds (like cuts or scrapes) are exposed to urine or urine-contaminated water or soil. Infection can also be spread through urine-contaminated food or bedding, or the tissues or carcasses of infected animals.
How is leptospirosis diagnosed and treated in dogs?
Because leptospirosis can look like other diseases, your veterinarian will need your help to make a diagnosis. This includes sharing information about your dog's lifestyle and travel history, which can help highlight possible exposure to Leptospira bacteria. In addition to a complete physical exam, your veterinarian may recommend certain blood tests, urine tests, X-rays, and an ultrasound exam. The choice of recommended tests is usually based on the nature and severity of the illness.
Leptospirosis is generally treated with antibiotics and supportive care. Depending on how sick an affected dog is, they may require fluid therapy, certain medications, and nutritional support. When leptospirosis is treated early, the chance of recovery is good. However, there is still a risk of permanent residual kidney or liver damage.
How can I protect my dog against leptospirosis?
Fortunately, vaccines are available to protect dogs from this potentially life-threatening disease. Because of the risk and severity of leptospirosis, experts recommend that all dogs be vaccinated. This can help protect people from infection, too. An initial series of two vaccinations spaced 4 weeks apart is typically recommended, followed by annual boosters. This series can be started at 12 weeks of age or later. Contrary to some beliefs, leptospirosis vaccines are no more likely to cause side effects than are other common vaccines.
Reducing your dog's exposure to possible sources of Leptospira bacteria can reduce the chance of infection:

• Avoid letting your dog drink from or swim in rivers, lakes, ponds, marshy areas, or slow-moving or stagnant water.
• Keep your dog away from farm animals and wild rodents, including carcasses.

SAYING GOOD-BYE

​How do I know when to say good-bye?
Discussing a pet’s quality of life can be emotionally difficult but is crucial for making informed and compassionate decisions about their care.  Our professional team can offer advice and friends and family can offer support, but no one can make the decision for you. 
When facing a difficult decision about euthanasia, try to make the best decision for your pet first.  That is a decision you will feel better about for the rest of your life.  There are several criteria used in evaluating quality of life which you should consider carefully.
 

The HHHHHMM scale is one often used by veterinarians to help assess a pet’s quality of life:

• Hurt-Is your pet in pain? Are we breathing normally? Whining, panting or aggression?
• Hunger- Is our pet interested in eating or eating enough? Decreased appetite or refusal to eat.
• Hydration-Is your pet drinking enough?
• Hygiene-Can your pet stay clean and groom itself? There are no pressure wounds present.
• Happiness-Is your pet happy, engaged with family members and other housemates?
• Mobility-Can your pet move without distress or assistance? Do we want to go for a walk?
• More good days than bad- Are the good days outweighing the bad? When the bad days outnumber good days, quality of life might be compromised. 

When a healthy human-animal bond is no longer possible, it may indicate the end is near.  Choosing to end a pet’s suffering is a final act of love and nothing less.  Knowing that your decisions are guided by that love is what helps us all through the sad and lonely time of losing a cherished animal companion. 
With decades of personal experience, we know it is a decision that never gets any easier. When you have made the decision to choose euthanasia, you can rest comfortably that your pet will be treated with kindness and respect.  This is the last supportive act you can perform for a pet with whom you have shared a close bond.  One that all of us has had to experience here at Green Valley Veterinary Hospital.  Let us help you say good-bye. 
 

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YOU FEEL A LUMP, NOW WHAT?

You feel a lump on your pet.  Now… what should you do?

One of the most common reasons owners bring a pet to see a veterinarian is to ask about “lumps” or “growths” – veterinarians call them masses – that can occur under the skin or on top of the skin. Masses can occur anywhere in the body but are most easily visible on the skin.
 
Maintaining the health of your pet’s skin and coat is vital to acknowledging certain skin conditions such as lumps and bumps. Lumps shouldn't be ignored. Whether your pet has developed a new lump suddenly, or you have noticed lumps that have changed, it's always better to be safe than sorry.   The earlier a lump or bump is diagnosed, the more successful the treatment will likely be.
 
Unfortunately, most of the time, veterinarians cannot tell what the mass is without performing some tests.  Some masses are tumors and can be cancerous.   Most people are terrified when a veterinarian says the word cancer, but not all types of tumors are dangerous.
 
When a mass first appears, you should have it checked by the veterinarian. Oftentimes, there will be two options. A veterinarian can advise a surgical biopsy (best option) where the entire tumor is removed surgically and sent to a board-certified veterinary pathologist for review. Nearly 100% of the time, the pathologist can describe the tumor and its likely behavior (will it cause life-threatening disease, recur or no problem).
 
Another test is called the fine needle aspirate (FNA), where the veterinarian extracts cells from the mass with a needle to get a small sample. This sample is placed on a glass slide and sent to the pathologist. FNA produces a good result about 50% of the time, but sometimes the sample is not able to be reviewed well by the pathologist and a biopsy may still be necessary.
 
Now…what do you look for when you find the lump?
Location: Where on the body is the lump located?
Size and shape: Is it small or large, round or irregular?
Texture: Is it soft, firm, or hard to the touch?
Mobility: Can you easily move the lump under the skin, or is it fixed in place?
Color: Is the skin over the lump discolored, irritated or has no hair growth?
 
If your dog or cat doesn’t have any lumps or bumps, you should check them on a regular basis so you’ll notice any changes that occur. Run your fingers through their coat and if you feel a lump or bump, call to schedule an examination. 

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IS YOUR DOG AN ATHLETE?

​Are knee injuries in dogs as common as sports’ athletes?
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The short answer is yes. The anatomy of the knee in humans and dogs is very similar. One of the most common sports-related injuries in human athletes is an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear. In dogs, the same ligament is called the CCL (cranial cruciate ligament) and injury to it can cause significant lameness in your dog.
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If you notice your dog becomes suddenly lame on a leg, it is best to have the leg examined by one of our veterinarians. If the lameness is in a hind leg, the most common site of the problem is the knee or CCL. Diagnosing a torn CCL can be difficult. Some dogs show severe signs of pain while others show only minor signs. The CCL can be partially torn or completely torn. Normally, an exam under sedation and/or radiographs (X-rays) is necessary to confirm a torn CCL. We often advise bloodwork as well, because dogs with CCL injuries require pain medications to increase their comfort.

Most CCL tears require surgery to correct the problem. We recommend this surgery be performed by a board-certified veterinary orthopedic surgeon. There are a number of types of surgeries to repair the CCL and referral surgeons are most up-to-date on the latest techniques. Most dogs return to normal or near-normal function following surgery, but significant care and rehabilitation is necessary at home to ensure a successful recovery. Unfortunately, about 50% of dogs that tear one CCL tear the other CCL in about 6-12 months. 
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The most critical component of recovery following surgery is rest and rehabilitation. At Green Valley, we offer laser therapy which has been shown to help surgical incisions and joints heal faster and increase mobility following orthopedic procedures. If we diagnose a CCL and need to refer you for surgery, we will be sure to speak with you about laser therapy and the different packages available to get your pet off the sideline and back in the game.

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Vaccinations (Part II)
​by Dawn S. Dinger, DVM

In part one of this blog on vaccination, we discussed some general information and answered some frequently asked questions regarding vaccinations. In part II we will discuss the current recommendations for canine vaccinations and what diseases they are protecting against.

Core vaccinations are considered vital for all dogs due to how common the disease is, the risk of exposure, the severity, or the potential risk to people. These include the DHPP (we will discuss what this means below) and the rabies vaccinations. There are also several other “non-core” vaccinations as well. These are vaccines that protect again diseases that may be less common in different areas of the country, or may be less of a concern depending on the life style of the pet. These include Leptospirosis, Lyme Disease, Bordetella and Canine Influenza. It is important to note that these diseases do not necessarily cause less severe disease.

So what exactly are these diseases and how do they affect our pets?

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1) DHPP: the letters of this vaccination stand for the individual diseases that this combination vaccine protects against.
D = Distemper: a highly contagious and very serious virus of dogs (and some wildlife) spread by aerosol and direct contact with infected animals or contaminated objects. It can lead to pneumonia, severe vomiting and diarrhea and seizures. It is often fatal and those dogs that do survive may have permanent neurological damage. Vaccination is recommended for all dogs and puppies.
H = Infectious Canine Hepatitis: also highly contagious this virus leads to acute liver failure, but can also affect the lungs, GI tract, kidneys and eyes. This infection can be fatal and vaccination is recommended for all dogs and puppies.
P = Parvovirus: Highly contagious, this virus is spread from dog to dog by secretions and lasts for at least 6 months in the environment. Signs include severe vomiting, bloody diarrhea, greatly decreased white bloods cells (which fight infection), fever, severe dehydration and sometimes death especially in puppies. Vaccinations is recommended for all dogs and puppies.
P = Parainfluenza: part of the “kennel cough” complex, this virus affects the respiratory tract and typically leads to coughing, fever, nasal discharge and lethargy. It is usually included in the “core” vaccinations that all dogs and puppies receive.

2) Rabies: This is a fatal viral infection of all mammals, including humans. It is spread via saliva and attacks the central nervous system leading to behavioral changes and paralysis. There is no treatment once signs develop. Unfortunately, there is also no way to test for rabies on a live animal – if rabies testing is required, for example if an unvaccinated animal bites someone or develops suspicious neurologic signs, this test must be performed on brain tissue. Vaccination is recommended for all dogs and puppies over 12 weeks of age and is typically required by law in most states, including Pennsylvania.

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3) Leptospirosis: Caused by a bacterium, this disease leads to fever, lethargy, joint pain and kidney and liver failure. It is also “zoonotic” - meaning people can get this as well. It is spread by direct contact, especially with urine of other dogs and wildlife and is often found in contaminated water and soil. Although not considered a “core” vaccine, leptospirosis vaccination is typically recommended at GVVH due to the high amount of leptospirosis we have in the area and the potential severity to both pets and people.

4) Lyme Disease: A tick-borne disease which can lead to limping, joint pain and kidney disease. In 2015 Pennsylvania had the highest number of confirmed Lyme cases in people in the United States and the 2nd highest in dogs. Due to the high incidence of the disease here, we typically recommend vaccination for dogs and puppies.

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4) Bordetella: Part of the “kennel cough” complex, this virus affects the respiratory tract and typically leads to coughing, fever, nasal discharge and lethargy. If your dog has any potential exposure to other dogs, for example at boarding kennels, dog parks, groomers, training classes or dog shows, this vaccination may be recommended. Also note, that many boarding kennels require this vaccination as well.

5) Canine Influenza: A relatively newly recognized disease, the “dog flu” leads to respiratory illness ranging from a mild cough to severe pneumonia. It is highly contagious and is easily spread from dog to dog via aerosol and contaminated objects. The same groups of dogs that are recommended to be vaccinated against Bordetella, will also likely benefit from the Canine Influenza vaccine. Some boarding kennels are beginning to require this vaccination as well.

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Rest assured that at their annual wellness appointment, we will review your dog's lifestyle and overall health and make vaccination recommendations tailored to your pet so that he or she will remain healthy and happy members of your family.


In the final part of this blog on vaccination we will discuss the diseases and recommended vaccinations for our feline friends. Stay tuned….

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